The Rehearsal Crisis

This flow follows the practical and interpersonal disorder of rehearsal as the director tries to hold together an inexperienced, fearful cast.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

A Rehearsal Begins Late

The Cast Arrives Uneasily

Roles Need Explanation

The Story's Vocabulary Fails

The Silent-Pageant Rule

The Director Protects the Convention

The Missing Baby and Wrong Prop

A Prop Problem Grows The Doll Cannot Be Found Imogene cannot locate the Baby Jesus doll and substitutes a large flower urn wrapped in a blanket. She drops it on Ralph’s foot, delaying the run-through. The Production Loses Control Other children miss entrances and songs divide into competing melodies. The rehearsal shows how fragile the pageant’s carefully planned sequence really is.

No Complete Run-Through

The Rehearsal Never Settles

At the first rehearsal

As the first rehearsal proceeds

During rehearsals after Imogene speaks as Mary

During the final dress rehearsal

At the end of the final rehearsal